Broken bones

[rjgoos]

I took a nasty fall on the ice on Thursday night, while carrying my amp back to my car after music practice of a band I'm in.

I jammed my index finger, pinkie, and right wrist, but I told myself to suck it up and it'll get better. The usual macho thing, you know.

The band met again this morning (Saturday), and the piano player (a long-time music teacher) saw me with an elastic bandage on my wrist. She chewed me out, and said, "What are you doing here...go get that x-rayed." So I did, and she was right. Fortunately, my index finger and pinkie were not broken, but I guess I've got a broken bone or two in my wrist. I knew the verdict when I looked through the window and saw the x-ray technician wince when, apparently, the results of the x-rays came up on her screen. The doctor has referred me directly to a specialist on Monday, so maybe the situation is a lot worse than I thought. Aaargh.

So, I need to quit playing and typing for a while...I'll know more next week.

I just wanted to say to you, my fellow tap guitarists.....don't suck it up, when it comes to something as important as your hands, guys....if you get injured, see a doctor.


RJ Goos

[Thornmoon]

I had my right arm and right hip broken in four places each after a close encounter with a drunk driver...

I wasn't able to play for 8 months..

I almost went nuts!!

Sincerest and most ardent wishes for a speedy recovery!!

[murphy]

really sorry to hear about it RJ. I hope you have a full and speedy recovery.

murph

[rjgoos]

Things are working out OK, Murph. Thanks for the kind words.

No cast needed. I've got some sort of high tech splint thingie instead.

Actually, music-wise, I'm still very busy. My wife is playing her classical guitar for several vesper services for Lent, and I am accompanying her, with my left hand, on my Stick, with some simple bass backup. In any case, my wife is such a good player, that it is very easy to add a little simple bass end to what is already good music.

RJ Goos

[rjgoos]

Well, I finally got to see the orthopedist, and actually see the x-ray. It was worse than I had thought, from the cryptic information given to me at the clinic.

It was an odd fracture, not one seen too often. There was a "avulsion fracture of the triquetrum." Basically, one of my forearm bones (the smaller diameter of the two) chipped off part of one of the wrist bones. So, I've got a cast for 4 weeks, and they'll re-x-ray it, and if it doesn't heal, they'll have to operate and remove the chip.

But the cast put my arm in an awful angle for typing, but at least the angle is OK for playing guitar and Stick. As long as I don't lift more than 5 lbs, I can do anything I want with my fingers.

My point is not to evoke sympathy, but to say that I was just going to ignore all of this, which would have been a bad mistake. There are times not to play macho, friends. If you injure your fingers or wrist, see a doctor.


R Jay Goos

[Glenn Drakeley]

I jammed the middle finger on my right hand directly (straight on)into the tread area of a humongous truck tire about a month ago at work, the finger remains swollen to this day at about twice its normal size, useful for other things but not quite so for tapping !!
I can painlessly flex the finger, but if I squeeze the knuckle laterally I almost have to cry like a baby due to the incredible pain. I have no intention of seeking medical relief for my condition, it's a work injury that i'm most proud of, than along with the multitude of burns, cuts and scrapes i have acquired ................................. My taptime has been drastically reduced due to my new profession, it takes me too much time to degrease and i'll not abuse my instruments with automotive pollutants !! My e-drums (and eardrums too I guess) are getting quite a workout lately, replacing oily-greasy drumsticks is quite affordable.................

Later....

[rjgoos]

Well, I got the cast off yesterday. The bone chip that was detached from its original place in the wrist has re-attached itself, and the xrays look OK.

I have no pain in my wrist, but I can only flex my hand forward about half as far as the other...hopefully it will loosen up with time.

So, all-in-all a good result.


RJ Goos

[lemur821]

I'm glad to hear that.

[Glenn Drakeley]

It took ten stitches to plug the gaping hole on the meaty part of the topside of my left hand just behind the thumb, left by the super sharp saw blade of my Leatherman Wave Multi-tool yesterday !!! It took three small binder clips to hold the gash shut while i drove to the closest emergency room, wherein I proceeded to wait one and a half hours before somebody took a look at it !! Leatherman missed all tendons and nerves, thank God for that !!! Thumb moveability has returned, the anesthetic they used really did a good job and now, of course, the pain is a wee bit unpleasant now that the anesthetic has worn off !! To add insult to injury, the Tetanus shot I received in the same (left) arm has rendered the upper part of said arm useless and the pain is actually worse than the cut !! There's a wee bit of humor here in that in my absence Elliott and Charline (my cats) had jumped up into the kitchen sink and grabbed about 10 feet of bloody paper towels and dispersed them all over my townhouse, upon my return all I could really do was laugh myself into tears at what they'd done !!! Lefty's out of commission for two weeks..............

[rjgoos]

Glenn..Glenn...be careful!!! Aargh, I could hardly stand to read your post. Hand injuries make me wince...a lot.

Jay

[traktor]

Whooah!

Leatherman, indeed.

[Glenn Drakeley]

WHOOAH indeed !! And now I finally know the real answer to that ageold question "What is the sound of one hand tapping ?"

[James]

I've never suffered from RSI or a fractured wrist, 'touch wood' :D

I agree with you there. Whenever I'm working on a strengthening exercise and it gets to taxing on the arm muscles I don't continue. I'm told injuries like that can take a while to heal

...and don't forget you can still play your theramin Jay, though I can imagine accompanying your wife's guitar with this would sound quite interesting. Have you tried it?

[rjgoos]

To me playing the theremin is like doing a hard puzzle, or doing calculus.....an excellent mental exercise. The theremin forces you to engage a level of ear-eye-hand coordination that even is more intense than playing the violin. It is good for my aging brain.

Unfortunately, the theremin is way hard...way, way hard. I could never see myself playing a theremin in public, whereas from the first day I got my Stick, I could think of nothing but the day when I would play in public (which with regards to a totally solo public performance, was last Sunday). But don't EVER expect to hear me playing the theremin. I really am awful....the cat runs under the bed whenever I play.


Jay

[traktor]

Originally posted by rjgoos
... <snip> ... whereas from the first day I got my Stick, I could think of nothing but the day when I would play in public (which with regards to a totally solo public performance, was last Sunday). ...
Belatey Congraduations!

[rjgoos]

Originally posted by traktor
Belatey Congraduations!


I played about four solo pieces during the distribution of communion at church, at two different services. It was a difficult assignment, you want the music to be there for those who want to listen to it, but not be there for people who want to think about other things. It also has a double risk to it...no only do you have the risk of not pleasing the crowd, but you also risk not pleasing a certain higher power. I am happy to report, however, that no lightning bolts, or other indicators of divine displeasure were visited upon me, so I lived to tell the tale.


Jay

[Glenn Drakeley]

Lefty's out of commission for another two weeks, stiches were botched by ER Doc. and had to come out one week early. I went to a "real" doctor last week when I could no longer feel any of my left arm below the elbow, including my left hand. Upon removal of the original stiches all feeling returned. Lefty was Steri-sutured and I was sent home. During yesterday's trip back to same non-ER Doc. all Steri-strips and bandages were removed and I was told it would be another 1-2 weeks before the wound closed and healed fully, lefty must be kept clean, high and dry !!! All in all EIHN tho it looks real easy to reopen the laceration !!!!

Don't ask about my lack of medical benefits even tho my premiums are all paid up.................................

[rjgoos]

Sounds grim, Glenn!! I wish I had a word of encouragement to offer, but it sounds like the pits.

Wow, you can't even play the thermin, if your right hand is out of commission.


Jay